If your house is on the market and you plan to be away during Hurricane Season, here are some tipsthat won't derail your sale. Boca Raton and so much of Florida has seasonal residents whom we call Snow Birds..... they migrate north usually around Memorial Day and return sometime after Labor Day. This also happens to occur during hurricane season which begins June1 and ends November 30th.

If you're not selling your home, you would typically bring in all of your patio furniture as well as any items that could become airborne. Then up go your hurricane shutters before you head north.

However if you are selling your home in Boca Raton, you still want your house to be able to stand out... you want your potential buyers to be able to see your space. You will want to leave your hurricane shutters off. A shuttered home is a dark one....trust me.

I spoke with Lu Cohen of Realty Associates who said that many Condominium Associations will not allow residents to board up their homes when they leave so as not to send out a signal that "no one is home." And if the home is shuttered, it is difficult to inspect walls and check for leaks should there be an inspection. ;

Tips for Snowbirds Selling Your Home

1. Don't assume your Realtor will be available to check your house on a regular basis. It's not that they don't want to but they have many other responsibilities besides one house. There are services in our area, such asSignature Home Management Services, who offer home maintenance and repair and will care for your home when you are gone for the season. Signature will check on your home once a week if it is on the market.

2.Make sure that your lawn and pool service are maintaining the exterior of your home. If you have a cleaning service, they still need to come out even though no one is living in the home, even if on a limited schedule, such as every 2 weeeks. They can remove spider webs and dead bugs and ants that are there even if you aren't.

3 Find a friend, relative or handyman who is available to get your house hurricane readyin the event of a storm. It is best to do this prior to the actual issuance of a hurricanewatch since this will probably not allow enough time to get someone out. It will be worth the investment to be able to have someone take care of this rather than have your home boarded up all summer. Ask your Realtor for advice. They may know of contractors or handymen who can board up your house. You can also ask the local retailer from whom you purchased the shutters for recommendations.

4. If you have plants that will need watering and tending find someone to care for them or remove them. Dead plants are not exactly a way to say "Buy me."

Don't derail the sale your home if you plan to be away for the summer. Call your Realtor or Professional Home Stager for more Information.

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